Casey Anthony civil trial delayed another year

Tuesday , March 13, 2012 - 3:25 PM

Henry Pierson Curtis

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The civil trial against Casey Anthony has been delayed until next year. Circuit Judge Lisa T. Munyon reset the trial Tuesday after the plaintiff's lawyer notified the court of a conflict with a previously scheduled case in Duval County.

The civil trial was planned to start in April. Now it is set to begin Jan. 2.

Zenaida Gonzalez of Orlando is suing Anthony for defamation of character, accusing her of claiming a woman with the name Zenaida Gonzalez kidnapped her daughter, Caylee, in 2008.

Anthony was later charged and acquitted of murder in Caylee's disappearance and death. Anthony's criminal defense attorneys subsequently said she made up the story about the kidnapping and the baby sitter named Zenaida.

Anthony utilized her Fifth Amendment numerous times when questioned under oath in this case.

Anthony has been living in hiding since she was released from the Orange County Jail in July after a jury found her not guilty in the 2008 murder of her 2-year-old daughter.

In other motions this week, Gonzalez's lawyers asked Munyon to order Anthony's defense team to turn over her address or deliver a subpoena to compel her to appear in court.

Anthony's attorneys, Charles Greene and Cheney Mason, told the judge that threats have been made toward their client, the legal team and their family members.

Munyon ruled partially in favor of Gonzalez's attorneys, granting them the right to subpoena Anthony, but said she could not force the defense to accept the subpoena on her behalf.

The attorney will be allowed to refile a motion regarding the subpoena.

Anthony's lawyers argued against the motion, stating it would cause her to be in danger if the public knew when and where Anthony would be.

During the criminal trial, Anthony was granted the protection of the SWAT team, Greene said, and questioned what kind of protection the court could offer now that she is free.

Munyon said it's the sheriff's job to protect people in Orange County and had confidence he would do so if Anthony attended the trial.